In this morning's news...

Parts of Lower Michigan are seeing some severe winter weather this morning. “The National Weather Service says freezing rain could make travel hazardous across much of Michigan's western and central Lower Peninsula as temperatures rise out of the deep freeze that has been gripping the area. It says fog and drizzle could combine to create near-zero visibility at times in the early morning hours of Monday,” the Associated Press reports.

Detroit City Council Trying to Avoid EM

The Detroit City Council is continuing their efforts to avoid a state-appointed Emergency Manager but, as Sarah Cwiek reports, the city’s elected leaders, “are still struggling to come up with a unified plan to avoid a state takeover—even as a state review team continues work in the city. The Detroit City Council has been critical of Mayor Dave Bing’s proposal to save more than $100 million this fiscal year to prevent the city from running out of cash... The Council has its own list of suggestions. But in the end, they can do little more than offer them to the Mayor. Still, Council President Charles Pugh says both sides agree that the state should offer some kind of help to keep Detroit solvent. But he says that needs to be in exchange for a viable plan to restructure the city and wipe out its deficit.”

All but one candidate running to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate are expected to appear at a debate in West Michigan this week. The nominee will face incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow in the general election in November. Jim Chiodo, President of the Ottawa County Patriots, the group hosting the forum, says attorney Clark Durant will not attend. Chiodo admits that’s mostly his fault for not getting back to Durant promptly. The candidates will be asked to talk about energy issues, national security, and individuals’ civil rights. The audience will get a chance to ask questions too. The forum is free and open to the public.